While not too common to find on home inspections here in WA, some people choose to go for wood for a natural look and these can also be found in a variety of sizes and colours.

Because the cuts are so different, shake roofs are completely unique from one another. In terms of energy, wood can be beneficial since it will insulate the attic whilst allowing air to be circulated through the openings found in the felt rows. However, a wooden shake roof can be somewhat more demanding than other options and needs regular maintenance and repair. Over time, rot, insects, and mold can all become a problem.

Unfortunately, old shakes cannot be recycled and the cost of this option can be expensive over its life cycle. Although many roofers will use fire retardants as a spray, fire safety codes rarely rate wood shakes at all. With the spray in question, they only last for a few years and are questioned as to their effectiveness. Despite this, many pressure-treated products within this category do meet the fire safety standards.

Because the installation process of wood shakes can be quite tricky, the end result can depend on the experience and skill of the roofer. Additionally, the quality of material matters too as the best wood comes from old cedar trees but these are also the rarest of them all. With this in mind, the outer wood tends to be used from the same tree and this is seen as being less uniform, poorer quality, and prone to warping.